We have not seen it in years but special ordered it in ourselves. Only place you will find it in St. Louis! (used to be in bottles)
Haandbryggeriet Dark Force Wheat Stout....$9.49 / 14.9oz can
Double Extreme Imperial Wheat Stout
8.5% ABV
For a long, long time ago, before it was cool to brew imperial stouts, we brewed this beer that tastes like the sound of James Earl Jones whispering in your ear.
"From a strange country far, far away comes the first and only -- for the love of Christ, we hope so, anyway -- Double Extreme Imperial Wheat Stout in the known universe. Only from the former homebrewers at Haandbryggeriet (the 'Hand' Brewery), of course, who make beer on an absurdly small scale and therefore have the luxury of brewing purely for their own pleasure. We suspect, however, that you'll quite enjoy what they do. Dark Force is creamy and velvety, but the addition of plenty of malted wheat gives this stout a crispness and drinkability that belies its considerable alcoholic strength. Be forewarned: this Imperial really strikes back.
A tale of two styles of porter!
Haandbryggeriet Black Canvas American Porter...$7.99 / 14.9oz can
(6.3% ABV)
Brewed in Drammen, Norway, Black Canvas is Haandbryggeriet’s technical interpretation of a modern American porter—dark and resinous yet balanced by deft fermentation control. The grist features a blend of pale, crystal, chocolate, and roasted barley malts that generate deep espresso tones and layers of cocoa and burnt sugar. A focused American hop schedule of Centennial and Cascade provides firm bitterness (~45 IBU) and pine-citrus aromatics without overwhelming the roast. Fermented clean with an American ale yeast strain at moderate temperatures, the beer finishes dry with moderate carbonation and a lingering roast snap. It’s a precision-built dark ale that bridges classic U.S. porter character with Norwegian craftsmanship.
Haandbryggeriet 1984 Baltic Porter...$9.49 / 11.2z can
(10.6% ABV)
Named in tribute to the brewery’s founding era, 1984 is a cold-fermented Baltic porter that showcases Haandbryggeriet’s mastery of lager fermentation under pressure. The recipe draws from continental European malt—Munich, Vienna, and Carafa Special III—creating a dense matrix of toffee, dark chocolate, licorice, and molasses. Fermented with a clean lager yeast and lagered for several weeks near 0 °C, it achieves exceptional smoothness and oxidative stability. A restrained noble-hop charge (~30 IBU) provides structural balance while keeping the malt richness in focus. The result is a technically refined, full-bodied dark lager that combines Scandinavian precision with the deep, velvety intensity of traditional Baltic porters.
Baltic Porter vs. American Porter — a Technical Comparison
While both styles share roasted malt DNA, Baltic Porters and American Porters diverge in fermentation technique, flavor profile, and historical origin — a difference Haandbryggeriet of Drammen, Norway captures brilliantly across its dark beer range.
Fermentation:
Baltic Porters are traditionally cold-fermented with lager yeast (though some modern brewers use very clean ale strains). This produces a smoother, rounder profile with minimal esters and a deep malt polish.
American Porters, by contrast, use top-fermenting ale yeast at warmer temperatures. The result is a more expressive fermentation character — light fruitiness, sharper roast edges, and a drier finish.
Malt & Body:
A Baltic Porter like Haandbryggeriet 1984 leans on continental malts — Munich, Vienna, and Carafa — to build a dense, velvety core of dark chocolate, toffee, molasses, and mild licorice. Extended cold maturation (lagering) reduces harshness and yields exceptional smoothness.
An American Porter such as Haandbryggeriet Black Canvas takes its cue from U.S. craft traditions, layering roasted barley and chocolate malts over a clean American base malt. The beer is typically leaner, more hop-driven, and more assertive in roast, with pine-citrus aromatics from domestic hop varieties like Cascade or Centennial.
Alcohol & Balance:
Baltic Porters generally range from 7.5–10.5% ABV, offering a warming, rich intensity balanced by moderate bitterness (~25–40 IBU).
American Porters tend to fall around 5–6.5% ABV, with a sharper bitterness (~35–50 IBU) and a dry, drinkable finish.
Haandbryggeriet’s Approach:
Founded in 2005, Haandbryggeriet has built a reputation for precision fermentation and Nordic reinterpretations of global styles. Their 1984 Baltic Porter exemplifies technical brewing discipline — cold-fermented, long-lagered, and malt-forward — while Black Canvas showcases their skill in American-style ale fermentation, where clean yeast and assertive hopping define the profile.
In short:
If Black Canvas is a study in contrast and roast precision, 1984 is a lesson in depth and polish — both expressions of Haandbryggeriet’s meticulous, small-batch craftsmanship rooted in Norwegian brewing innovation.
For a long, long time ago, before it was cool to brew imperial stouts, we brewed this beer that tastes like the sound of James Earl Jones whispering in your ear.
"From a strange country far, far away comes the first and only -- for the love of Christ, we hope so, anyway -- Double Extreme Imperial Wheat Stout in the known universe. Only from the former homebrewers at Haandbryggeriet (the 'Hand' Brewery), of course, who make beer on an absurdly small scale and therefore have the luxury of brewing purely for their own pleasure. We suspect, however, that you'll quite enjoy what they do. Dark Force is creamy and velvety, but the addition of plenty of malted wheat gives this stout a crispness and drinkability that belies its considerable alcoholic strength. Be forewarned: this Imperial really strikes back.
A tale of two styles of porter!
Haandbryggeriet Black Canvas American Porter...$7.99 / 14.9oz can
(6.3% ABV)
Brewed in Drammen, Norway, Black Canvas is Haandbryggeriet’s technical interpretation of a modern American porter—dark and resinous yet balanced by deft fermentation control. The grist features a blend of pale, crystal, chocolate, and roasted barley malts that generate deep espresso tones and layers of cocoa and burnt sugar. A focused American hop schedule of Centennial and Cascade provides firm bitterness (~45 IBU) and pine-citrus aromatics without overwhelming the roast. Fermented clean with an American ale yeast strain at moderate temperatures, the beer finishes dry with moderate carbonation and a lingering roast snap. It’s a precision-built dark ale that bridges classic U.S. porter character with Norwegian craftsmanship.
Haandbryggeriet 1984 Baltic Porter...$9.49 / 11.2z can
(10.6% ABV)
Named in tribute to the brewery’s founding era, 1984 is a cold-fermented Baltic porter that showcases Haandbryggeriet’s mastery of lager fermentation under pressure. The recipe draws from continental European malt—Munich, Vienna, and Carafa Special III—creating a dense matrix of toffee, dark chocolate, licorice, and molasses. Fermented with a clean lager yeast and lagered for several weeks near 0 °C, it achieves exceptional smoothness and oxidative stability. A restrained noble-hop charge (~30 IBU) provides structural balance while keeping the malt richness in focus. The result is a technically refined, full-bodied dark lager that combines Scandinavian precision with the deep, velvety intensity of traditional Baltic porters.
Baltic Porter vs. American Porter — a Technical Comparison
While both styles share roasted malt DNA, Baltic Porters and American Porters diverge in fermentation technique, flavor profile, and historical origin — a difference Haandbryggeriet of Drammen, Norway captures brilliantly across its dark beer range.
Fermentation:
Baltic Porters are traditionally cold-fermented with lager yeast (though some modern brewers use very clean ale strains). This produces a smoother, rounder profile with minimal esters and a deep malt polish.
American Porters, by contrast, use top-fermenting ale yeast at warmer temperatures. The result is a more expressive fermentation character — light fruitiness, sharper roast edges, and a drier finish.
Malt & Body:
A Baltic Porter like Haandbryggeriet 1984 leans on continental malts — Munich, Vienna, and Carafa — to build a dense, velvety core of dark chocolate, toffee, molasses, and mild licorice. Extended cold maturation (lagering) reduces harshness and yields exceptional smoothness.
An American Porter such as Haandbryggeriet Black Canvas takes its cue from U.S. craft traditions, layering roasted barley and chocolate malts over a clean American base malt. The beer is typically leaner, more hop-driven, and more assertive in roast, with pine-citrus aromatics from domestic hop varieties like Cascade or Centennial.
Alcohol & Balance:
Baltic Porters generally range from 7.5–10.5% ABV, offering a warming, rich intensity balanced by moderate bitterness (~25–40 IBU).
American Porters tend to fall around 5–6.5% ABV, with a sharper bitterness (~35–50 IBU) and a dry, drinkable finish.
Haandbryggeriet’s Approach:
Founded in 2005, Haandbryggeriet has built a reputation for precision fermentation and Nordic reinterpretations of global styles. Their 1984 Baltic Porter exemplifies technical brewing discipline — cold-fermented, long-lagered, and malt-forward — while Black Canvas showcases their skill in American-style ale fermentation, where clean yeast and assertive hopping define the profile.
In short:
If Black Canvas is a study in contrast and roast precision, 1984 is a lesson in depth and polish — both expressions of Haandbryggeriet’s meticulous, small-batch craftsmanship rooted in Norwegian brewing innovation.
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